Stop touching your mouth!!

Have you ever dried your teeth with your finger and pushed your lips up so that your lips stay tucked up and your teeth look all big? Anyone know what I'm talking about?

Sometime over the last couple months Elijah has developed a nervous habit - something he does when he's anxious or bored or not knowing what to do in certain situations.

Particularly around other kids.

We try not to draw too much attention to it because it just makes him do it more (so the experts say, and so we've noticed). But it drives us c-r-a-z-y!

"Stop touching your mouth" "Leave your lips alone"

"Your hands are really dirty - please don't touch your mouth" -- that one is the worst. Little boys love to touch and explore e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g outside - ugh, yuck. So after picking up trash on the floor, running his fingers along the moldly wall, cleaning off the dirt and grime off the slide he puts his fingers all in his mouth.

Anyone have any suggestions? Should I just bite my tongue and let him keep pushing on his lips? Wait until school starts and other kids say something? I don't want my little boy to be made fun of! What's a mom to do?